Wyndham Child & Family Directory

Karobran Kindergarten

About this service

Kindergarten is a fun, play-based environment that encourages learning through experimenting, trial and error, watching, listening and participating. Kindergarten programs are designed to improve your child’s development in the following key areas:

independence and self-confidence;

social skills, like how to play with other children in a calm, sharing and rewarding way;

self-awareness and respect for others;

emotional skills, such as understanding their own feelings and those of others;

language, literacy and numeracy skills, such as reading stories and counting objects;

a joy for learning and group activities, such as talking, singing, dancing, drawing and making things together with other children their own age;

ability to make new friends;

exposure to new ideas and concepts.

Kindergarten programs are planned and implemented by a trained Early Childhood teacher, with the support of qualified co-workers. The centre-based Kindergarten program aims to extend the child’s development and education, using routines and play-based experiences appropriate for children’s unique and holistic development.

The curriculum content is developed using the interests and developmental needs of each child as its prime focus. The curriculum is guided by the approved Early Years Learning and Development Frameworks and the National Quality Framework to achieve the five key learning outcomes of:

children have a strong sense of identity;

children are connected with and contribute to their world (community);

children have a strong sense of wellbeing;

children are confident and involved learners (learning);

children are effective communicators (communication).

The outcomes provide a shared language for all early childhood professionals and families to use when planning for children’s learning and development, which allows for continuity when your child transitions from Kindergarten to school

Wyndham City Council provides Kindergarten Services throughout the municipality. Kindergarten is not zoned, although higher priority is given to applications where the home suburb matches the suburb of the preferred kindergarten.

Service hours

Wyndham City offers families a range of 15 hour timetable options, known as Universal Access. Groups run between 8:00am and 5:15pm on weekdays, with individual session start/finish times, duration and frequency varying for each group. Please refer to our website at www.wyndham.vic.gov.au/kindergarten for the current timetable.

Age group

4 - 5 years

Additional age criteria

Children are eligible for a State-funded year of kindergarten in the year before they go to school. In Victoria, a child cannot attend more than one State Government funded kindergarten program at the same time. A child must be four years of age by 30 April in the year that they are to attend kindergarten.

Interpreters

Enrolment materials can be translated by contacting 131 450 and ask to be connected to Wyndham City on 9742 0777. Interpreters can be organised for Orientation Sessions and interviews if required at no cost. Contact 9742 8147 or 9742 8172 for assistance.E

Service type

INDIVIDUAL

Costs

For full fee information please refer to the Wyndham Kindergarten website.

Service for

4 Year Old Children

Disability access

Families should provide details of any diagnosed additional needs or medical requirements in the relevant sections of the Enrolment Application Form, and are encouraged to attach any supporting documentation.
The Kindergarten Inclusion Support Service (KISS) offers supplementary assistance to Kindergartens to support the inclusion of children with additional needs in the Kindergarten program. Applications are made by the Kindergarten teacher in consultation with parents, early childhood intervention agencies and Preschool Field Officers.
Applications are made in September of the year prior to the child starting Kindergarten and a strict criterion exists for an application to be made.
Please see the Wyndham Kindergarten website for further information about the Preschool Field Officer Service.

Drop in service

If you wish to visit a Council Kindergarten, please phone the centre to arrange an appointment time. Council only accepts applications for its own kindergartens. Please contact Funded kindergarten directly if you wish to enrol in their service.

The Department of Education & Training specifies that all eligible children must have access to 15 hours of kindergarten per week. Council offers kindergarten from 25 sites across the municipality. Funded kindergarten places are also available in community-based kindergartens, long day care centres and some private schools.

Staff profile

Kindergarten programs are planned and implemented by a trained Early Childhood teacher, with the support of qualified co-workers. Please note that some groups incorporate a team teaching model, where more than two Educators work together to deliver the kindergarten program.

Who can refer

Parents/legal guardians of eligible children may submit an application for kindergarten.

Referral mode

Families can collect an Enrolment Application form from the Civic Centre at 45 Princes Highway, Werribee or from a Council Kindergarten, or print a copy from the Wyndham City website at www.wyndham.vic.gov.au/kindergarten (ensure you also print a copy of the map and timetable).
The completed Enrolment Application Form with the $30 Application Fee and a copy of the child’s birth certificate and other supporting documentation can be returned:
a In person at the Civic Centre, 45 Princes Highway, Werribee; or
b By mail to Kindergarten Enrolment Officer, Wyndham City Council, P.O. Box 197, Werribee, VIC 3030. (Attach a cheque or money order for application fee. Do not send cash.)

Point of intake

Enrolments open in March of the year before kindergarten. The Enrolment Application Form must be submitted by 30 June in the year before kindergarten to be considered for first round offers. Applications received after this date will be included in subsequent allocation rounds, but will be assigned a lower priority.

E-Referral option

Enrolment Application Materials may be obtained from the website at www.wyndham.vic.gov.au/kindergarten, however applications forms are currently only accepted in person or by mail.

Wyndham Best Start in Life Alliance would like to acknowledge and thank the four students from local schools who have allowed for their drawings to be used on this website.

This site was originally funded by Wyndham Best Start and developed by the Best Start Pathways Working Group

Wyndham Best Start is now part of the Wyndham Best Start in LifeAlliance, which is a collaboration between agencies, which are committed tobuilding a robust early years’ service system to improve the outcomes for themost vulnerable children and families in the City of Wyndham.